Draft-regulating damper for locomotive smoke-boxes.



H. G. WOODBR'IDGB.

DRAFT REGULATING DAMPER FOR LOGOMOTIVB SMOKE BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, 1912.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

INVENTOR llhlllTED @TATES PATENT @FFIQE.

HOWARD C. VTOODBRIDGE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

DRAFT-REGULATING BAMPER FOP. LOCOMOTIVE SIVIDKE-BOXES.

Application filed December 10, 1312,

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD C. lVOOD- names, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Draftl-iegulating Dampers for Locomotive Smoke-Boxes, of which improvement the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a draft regulating device for locomotives, and has for its object to provide an improved damper ar rangement for the front end or smoke box of locomotive boilers, which may be readik operated to vary the draft through all of the boiler tubes uniformly or to substantially cut the same olf altogether if desired at any time to prevent the tearing of the fire by excessive blast from the engine exhaust nozzle.

Another object is to provide a simple and durable damper construction which may be readily applied to the present standard smoke box structure without interference with the steam pipes, spark arresters, and other appliances in the smoke box.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of the front end of a locomotive boiler, showing one form of my improvement applied thereto; and Fig. 2, a transverse view, showing one half in section, in a plane taken through the exhaust nozzle and smoke stack, and the other half in end elevation with the front plate of the smoke box removed.

According to the construction shown in the drawing, the locomotive boiler, 3, has the usual front tube sheet, 4, tubes, l and smoke box extension, 20, containing the steam pipes, 8, the exhaust nozzle, 7, deflector plate, 5, extending from the tube sheet above the tubes downwardly and forwardly, a horizontal plate, 6, extending from the plate, 5, around the exhaust nozzle, 7, a short distance belon the top thereof, and a spark arresting screen, 9, extending forwardly and upwardly from the plate, (3, to a vertical plate, S at the front end of the smoke box. An additional deflector plate, 11, may be located at the forward end of the plate, 6, in advance of the exhaust nozzle, and at the lower end of said plate, 11, may be mounted an adjustable plate, 12, for the purpose of regulating the relative strength of the draft through the lower tube and through the supply tubes of the boiler.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915,

Serial No. 735,886.

The smoke stack, 10, may be provided with a downward extension, 10, projecting down within the smoke box.

lVith the construction as thus far described, which may not differ materially from the standard form of smoke box apparatus already in use, the products of combustion pass through the tubes, the upper portion being deflected downward by plate, :5, so that all of the products pass under the plate, 6, and around the deflecting plates, 11, and 12. Most of the heavier and larger cinders which may be carried along in the products of combustion will be thrown down to the bottom of the forward end of the smoke box by contact with the deflector plates, 5, 11, and 12, and the lighter sparks, which rise with the products of combustion toward the outlet at the stack are caught in the spark arresting screen, 9, where they are disintegrated and extinguished, thereby preventing the discharge of live burning sparks from the stack, while at the same time permitting a full and free passage for the smoke and gases.

It is sometimes desired to adjust the draft through the lower tubes of the boiler relative to that through the upper tubes, and this can be readily done by adjusting slid ing plate, 12, at the lower edge of the deflector plate, 11. It is often desirable to vary the draft of the lire uniformly through all the tubes of the boiler, that is, to regulate the draft in both the upper and lower tubes an equal amount or to substantially cut off the draft altogether at certain times, as for instance when the locomotive driving wheels slip and revolve very rapidly with a full exhaust of steam being discharged from the nozzle through the stack. At such times, the pull of the exhaust upon the tire is very great and often sufficient to tear the fire and lift much of the burning fuel from the grate, which is very objectionable. According to my improvement, therefore, I introduce a damper into the path of the products of combustion through the smoke box at some point beyond the deflecting plate, and at such a point as to affect the draft through all tubes substantially alike, and at the same time not interfer with the free escape of the exhaust steam through the stack. The preferred location for my improved damper for accomplishing these results is at the front end of the smoke box just below the spark arresting screen, 9,

and according to the construction shown in the drawings, the damper, 15, is mounted on a shaft, 18, extending through the side of the smoke box below the spark arresting screen, the space around the damper being closed by a plate, 13, which is substantially an extension of the plate, 6, and abent plate, 14:, securely fastened at one edge to the front plate or wall of the smoke box just below thedoor therein. An arm, 16, fixed on the end of the shaft, 18, outside of the smoke box may be connected with a rod, 17, or any suitable form of mechanical connection for enabling the engineer or fireman to operate the damper whenever desired.

It will now be seen that this construction comprises a substantially imperforate par tition extending from the tube sheet above the boiler tubes forwardly around the exhaust nozzle and below the top thereof, to the forward end of the smoke box, thereby substantially cutting off the passage from the tubesto the stack except as regulated by the damper which controls the opening through the partition.

When the exhaust from the engine is very strong, as for instance when starting the train, or when the driving wheels slip upon the rails, the damper may be turned to a closed or nearly closed position and thereby cut off the draft through the tubes to such an extent as to prevent the pull of the ex haust upon fire from tearing the same and lifting the fuel from the furnace grate. The draft may also be regulated at anytime as desired by partially closing the damper, as this affects the draft through all the tubes uniformly, but does not interfere with the escape of the exhaust steam from the stack. By locating the damper in the front portion of the smoke box below the spark arresting screen, it is readily accessible at all times for inspection, repairs, or renewals by merely opening the door in the front plate of the smoke box, and it may be applied or renewed at any time, without in any way interfering with the pipes and other appliances in the smoke box. 7

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is 1. In a locomotive smoke box, the combination with the boiler tube sheet, exhaust nozzle, and smoke stack, of a deflecting plate extending from the tube sheet above the tubes downward and forward, a parti- Copics of this patent may be obtained for tion extending from said deflecting plate across the smoke box and below the top of the exhaust nozzle, and an adjustable damper located. in an opening through said partition in advance of the exhaust nozzle, for controlling the draft to the stack, the passage from the lower portion of the smoke box to the stack being completely closed by said partition, except for the damper opening.

2. In a locomotive smoke box, the combination with the boiler tube sheet, exhaust nozzle, and smoke stack, of a deflecting plate extending from the tube sheet above the tubes downward and forward, a partition extending from said deflecting plate across the smoke box to the front wall of the smoke box and below the top of the exhaust nozzle, and an adjustable damper controlling an opening through said partition in advance of the exhaust nozzle, the passage from the lower portion of the smoke box to the stack being completely closed by said partition, except for the damper opening.

3. In a locomotive smoke box, the combination with the boiler tube sheet, exhaust nozzle and smoke stack, of a deflecting plate extending from the tube sheet above the tubes downward and forward, a partition extending from said deflecting plate and below the top of the exhaust nozzle, an adjustable damper for controlling an opening through said partition in advance of the exhaust nozzle, and an additional deflecting plate extending downward from said partition between the exhaust nozzle and said damper.

4:. Ina locomotive smoke box, the combination with the boiler tube sheet, exhaust nozzle and smoke stack, of a deflecting plate extending from the tube sheet above the tubes downward and forward, a partition extending from said deflecting plate and be-- low the top of the exhaust nozzle, an adj ustable damper located in an opening through said partition forward of the exhaust nozzle, and a spark arresting screen extending upwardly and forwardly from said partition in advance of the exhaust nozzle and between the damper and the stack.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HOWARD C. WOODBRIDGE. Witnesses:

I. W. RANDALL, C. E. Anonnsox.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

